Cannabis for Canines

The Pacific Northwest is home to quite a few medical marijuana companies, commonly referred to as hemp or cannabidiol (CBD) based businesses. Now, many of these companies cater to our canine companions.

Written by Rebecca Sanchez | Above photo by Lindsay Baca

One such company, Canna-Pet, located in Washington state, works to help benefit pets through whole plant extract CBD-based products with high bioavailability. Starting with cannabis plants, Canna-Pet products provide extracted therapeutic benefits absent the psychoactivity of THC and are non-toxic to pets. In laymen’s terms, dogs receive the medicinal benefits without the ‘high’ often associated with marijuana.

As in the case of Odie, many veterinarians are granting approval for medical marijuana and major pet insurance companies offer coverage options. Working toward a quality life is one of the reasons Mr. Johns turned to medical marijuana, as the side effects of Tramadol limited his dog’s experiences. Sleep became the constant, “I wanted Odie to experience a pain-free, active life.”

Joe’s concerns for his dog is universal among pet owners who are searching for effective ways to help them manage their pet’s health. Drowsy dogs can be the norm when dealing with pain control. Pet-based medical marijuana offers an alternative treatment free of THC resulting in a better experience for both the patient and pet parent.

Approximately 50% of the United States has legalized marijuana, and medical marijuana has been used to successfully treat human patients’ cancer side effects for years. Tapping into this alternative treatment is seen as the next logical step by many in the animal community.

Specially formulated, medical marijuana can often relieve symptoms that limit a dog’s quality of life. Medical marijuana for pets is widely used to treat a variety of conditions including cancer, seizures, digestive support, joint discomfort, muscle spasms, digestive disorders, anxiety, and to help soothe anxious dogs.

The Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s recent survey reported a high degree of successful outcomes for dogs using medical marijuana. These included relief of seizures or convulsions, increased mobility, and higher pain tolerance. For the last year of his life, Odie benefitted from medicinal marijuana and remained relatively pain-free throughout his treatments.

Founded in science, pet-based medical marijuana companies like Canna-Pet are committed to helping pets by making non-psychotropic products available for adjunct and palliative therapy. Veterinarians and pet owners together are safely exploring this relatively new advancement in pet health with results pointing to positive outcomes. Check with your veterinarian if you think your dog might benefit from CBD and perhaps you’ll find that medical marijuana is one more tool available for you to help treat Fido.